Nearly 300 Ghanaians don land for Accra from South Africa, as dem dey fear say xenophobic violence fit start again. Ghana government charter flight from Johannesburg after protests against illegal immigration don spread.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana foreign minister, join other officials at Kotoka International Airport for Wednesday to welcome the first set of arrivals. Total of 297 Ghanaian citizens arrive that day, according to Benjamin Quashie, Ghana High Commissioner for South Africa.
One mother and her two children no fit board because she no get dem birth certificates, Quashie tell BBC. Many passengers no want talk to journalists, but Rudolph wey live for South Africa for 10 years and run salon say he dey leave because of the protests.
“E no comfortable for us to stay here anymore, so we must go. I think we go find peace for home,” Rudolph tell BBC. About 25,000 Ghanaians dey stay for South Africa, and roughly 800 register for repatriation.
Demonstrators claim illegal migrants dey put pressure on public services and ask South African government to do more. The protests dey organised by group called March and March, wey describe itself as citizen-led movement for immigration reform. Dem set 30 June deadline for illegal immigrants to leave.
Rudolph worry say that deadline fit cause violence. “The protests start for Durban, and dem escalate to other provinces. So definitely something bad fit happen,” he add, saying he never go return to South Africa.
Quashie tell BBC say Ghana government get duty to ensure safety of citizens. “The Ghanaian government listen to the plight of its citizens for South Africa, who feel say dem life dey danger, who feel say economic activity don stop, who feel unwelcome,” he talk.
“E be responsibility of every government to ensure say dem citizens dey taken care of both home and abroad.” When ask wetin dem dey do to stop illegal migrants from Ghana to South Africa, Quashie say dem get reintegration strategy for those wey dey return.
“The government dey willing to establish dem into whatever business dem dey do for South Africa. In a way, we dey help South African economy, because e clear say some of dem dey undocumented,” the diplomat talk.
“So taking dem out of here go let dem know say we no be people wey condone undocumented people for countries.” Some analysts suggest say the resurgence of anti-migrant sentiment for South Africa fit link to local elections wey dey scheduled for November.
For 2019, at least 12 people die, and for 2008, 62 foreign nationals die for attacks on foreigners across the country. But organisers of recent protests say dem dey peaceful. Earlier this month, South African government condemn criminal acts directed at foreigners, while conceding say country need to deal with illegal immigration.
For recent days, scores of foreigners dey camp outside South Africa home affairs department for Durban, saying dem fear for dem life. The group of more than 300 immigrants first seek refuge at local police station but dem move dem to another location before ending up outside the office wey dey deal with refugees and asylum seekers.
One Congolese national tell local online publication IOL News say dem dey “ask for protection”. “We dey told repeatedly say on 30 June, we go die and say no foreigner go remain for South Africa,” the woman talk.
